Growing Basil

Grow Your Own Basil

Basil is a member of the mint family. It is closely identified with Italian cooking, although it is originally from India. The extremely aromatic leaves also have a delightful variety of flavors. Leaf colors span from rich green to deep purple, with smooth or crinkled leaves. The flowers are insignificant, but very popular with bees.Basil, is used to season sauces, soups, salads and pasta dishes all around the world. In addition to its versatile flavor, basil also offers many important health benefits that will have you scrambling to add a little basil to your next meal. If you have a serious basil addiction like I do, it's cheaper to grow your own.

Recommended Varieties

• Genovese basil has larger leaves than 'Sweet Basil', with all the flavor.
• Lemon basil gives a fresh lemony tang to pesto. Small leaves can be harder to harvest. The cultivar 'Sweet Lemon Dani' or 'Sweet Dani' has lemon flavor and larger leaves.
• Cinnamon basil, to add a hint of cinnamon to a dish
• Purple basil, to add some nice color to your garden (when steeped in white vinegar, it creates a beautiful color)
• Thai basil, to add a sweet licorice flavor to a dish.

Planting Basil

• To get a head start, start the seeds indoors 6 weeks before the last spring frost.
• Ensure your outdoor site gets 6 to 8 hours of full Sun daily; soil should be moist and well-drained.
• After the last frost date, plant the seeds/seedlings in the ground about 1/4-inch deep. The soil should be around 70ºF for best growth.
• Plant the seeds/seedlings about 10 to 12 inches apart. They should grow to about 12 to 24 inches in height. For smaller plants, plant farther apart (about 16 to 24 inches).
• During the dry periods in summer, water the plants freely.
• Remember to pinch out the flower heads as soon as they appear to make sure that the leaves will continue growing.
• Tomatoes make great neighbors for basil plants in the garden.

Required Care

• Make sure that the soil is moist. Basil plants like moisture. If you live in a hot area, use mulch around the basil plants (the mulch will help keep the soil moist).
• Pick the leaves regularly to encourage growth throughout the summer.
• After 6 weeks, pinch off the center shoot to prevent early flowering. If flowers do grow, just cut them off.
• If the weather is going to be cold, be sure to harvest your basil beforehand, as the cold weather will destroy your plants.

Harvesting And Storage

• After the seedlings have their first six leaves, prune to above the second set.
• Every time a branch has six to eight leaves, repeat pruning the branches back to their first set of leaves.
• The best time to harvest is right when the plant starts to bud (before the flowers bloom).
• Basil is most pungent when it is fresh.
• If pruned regularly, twelve basil plants will produce 4 to 6 cups of leaves per week.
• The best method for storing basil is freezing. 
• Freezing will prevent the plant from losing any of its flavor. 
• To quick-freeze basil, dry whole sprigs of basil and package them in airtight plastic bags.
• Another storage method is drying the basil (although some of the flavor will be lost). Pinch off the leaves at the stem and place them in a well-ventilated and shady area. After 3 to 4 days, if the plants are not completely dry, place them in the oven on the lowest heat setting with the door slightly open. 
• Remember to turn the leaves (for equal drying) and check them frequently.

Few Health Benefits of Basil

• Basil prevents some cancers- Basil's antioxidant properties and flavonoids protect cell structures from damage inflicted by free radicals, important in cancer prevention and overall good health and wellness. 
• Basil boosts the immune system- Basil has important antibacterial properties. When applied to the skin or surfaces, basil fights back against bacteria and so much more. 
• Basil advances healthy skin- Essential oils found in basil have long been effective as organic alternatives in treating dry skin, acne and psoriasis. 
• Basil promotes heart health- Basil may be a flavorful addition to our kitchen cuisine, but it's also rich in beta-carotene and other carotenoids , powerful antioxidants that protect cells from free radical damage and cholesterol. Basil is also an excellent source of magnesium, improving blood flow, and promoting cardiovascular health and wellbeing. 
• Basil promotes a healthy gastrointestinal (GI) tract- Not just any old herb, basil's got anti-inflamatory properties second-to-none that can provide much-needed relief from all kinds of conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) conditions, treating constipation, indigestion, stomach cramps and more.

Fresh Tomato and Basil Pasta

Ingredients:

• 1 pound penne pasta
• 1 1/2 pounds tomatoes, halved, seeded, and chopped
• 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/4-in. pieces
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup basil leaves, slivered
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Preparation:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 1 tbsp. salt and the penne pasta.
• Cook pasta until just tender to the bite. 
• While pasta is cooking, combine tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, garlic, and basil in a large bowl. 
• Add olive oil and salt to the tomato mixture and keep aside.
• Now drain the pasta from the water and it to the tomato mixture, and toss. 
• Add salt and pepper to taste. 
• Serve hot, at room temperature, or cold (as a pasta salad).